Illinois 40 Under 40 Emerging Nurse Leaders Award Winner Highlight: Kathleen Krawzak
Meet Kathleen Krawzak, an APRN on the Pediatric Advanced Care Team at Advocate Children’s Hospital. Kathleen is a champion of combining holistic and modern medicine and building relationships between families and doctors. She has been nominated for the class of 2023 Illinois Nurses Foundation 40 Under 40 Emerging Nurse Leaders Award. Designed to highlight young nurses that are making a lasting difference in the healthcare industry, this award celebrates those who shape the future of nursing.
Kathleen: A Beacon of Compassion and Expertise in Pediatric Care
Kathleen is a shining example of dedication, expertise, and unwavering support for patients and families in pediatric palliative care. As a board-certified Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner with the Pediatric Advanced Care Team (PACT) at Advocate Children’s Hospital, Kathleen has profoundly contributed to the field since 2017. Her multifaceted approach to pain and symptom management and her compassionate approach to patient care have earned her the respect and admiration of her colleagues and the families she serves.
Expertise in Palliative Care
As a palliative care specialist, Kathleen employs a multimodal pain and symptom management approach, incorporating medication, child life therapies, psychosocial support, and integrative therapies. Her commitment to holistic care is underscored by the strong relationships she builds with families, supporting them through every step of their child’s disease trajectory. Collaborating with the interdisciplinary team, Kathleen ensures that pediatric patients and their families receive optimal care and support during challenging times.
The Bridge Between Hospital and Community
Kathleen’s work extends beyond the hospital walls as she liaises with outpatient palliative care services, ensuring seamless continuity of care for patients and families. Her commitment to bridging the gap between hospital and home highlights her dedication to patient support and the well-being of the entire family unit.
A true advocate for patients and families, Kathleen has made significant contributions to the sickle cell community. She recognized the importance of mobility in promoting overall health and was pivotal in co-organizing the successful “Stepping Up for Sickle Cell Disease” challenge at Advocate Children’s Hospital. This initiative fostered a sense of community and camaraderie while promoting physical activity and empowerment among patients, staff, and the community.
Recognized Expertise and Leadership
Kathleen’s expertise in pediatric palliative care is widely recognized and respected. In 2021, she was chosen by the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) as an expert reviewer for their Pediatric Palliative Care Guidelines, further solidifying her position as a thought leader in the field. Her impact reaches beyond direct patient care, as she serves as an active APRN preceptor, nurturing and guiding the next generation of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses.
Commitment to Lifelong Learning and Collaboration
Kathleen embodies the spirit of lifelong learning and collaboration. Her involvement in numerous committees, including the pediatric ethics committee and the co-founding and leadership of the PICU’s multidisciplinary forum, demonstrates her dedication to improving healthcare practices and patient outcomes. Additionally, her membership in professional organizations such as the Hospice and Palliative Care Nurses Association and her involvement as a program volunteer for No One Dies Alone (NODA) showcase her commitment to excellence in palliative care.
Extending Support and Knowledge Sharing
Kathleen’s leadership and expertise have not gone unnoticed, as she was sought out by the Courageous Parent Network (CPN) to facilitate a nursing blog for their organization. CPN is a non-profit that empowers parents and caregivers of children with serious illnesses by providing resources and tools based on other families’ and clinicians’ experiences and perspectives. Through her participation in this initiative, Kathleen continues to extend her support and knowledge to a broader audience, positively impacting countless lives.
Kathleen: Illuminating the Path of Compassionate Pediatric Palliative Care
Kathleen’s remarkable contributions as a Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner specializing in palliative care at Advocate Children’s Hospital exemplify the transformative power of compassion, expertise, and advocacy. Her commitment to comprehensive patient care, her role as a leader and collaborator, and her dedication to lifelong learning make her an invaluable asset to the pediatric palliative care community. Kathleen’s unwavering support for patients and families has brought comfort, empowerment, and hope to those facing challenging circumstances. Her outstanding contributions continue to shape the field of pediatric palliative care, setting an example for others to follow.
Congratulations to Kathleen Krawzakl and Advocate Children’s Hospital for this prestigious honor! The Illinois Nurses Foundation 40 Under 40 Award for Emerging Nurse Leaders is proven to open career doors for its recipients. INF is proud to celebrate nurses like Kathleen, who have made a lasting impact in the healthcare industry.
For more information on the INF 40 Under 40 Award Ceremony, click this link.
Illinois Nurses Foundation: Support Education, Advocation, and Recognition for Nurses
The Illinois Nurses Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports nurses through various programs, empowering them, promoting excellence, and advancing the nursing profession while also recognizing and celebrating the remarkable achievements of young nurses through the INF 40 Under 40 Emerging Nurse Leaders Award, highlighting their talent and potential for the field’s growth and evolution. Donate to INF today, and you can help empower nurses and improve healthcare!